Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the budget session, I asked questions of Minister Dent on the early childhood facility that they were hoping to incorporate into the new school in Inuvik. The government leases buildings, we look for office space, we try to build office space and the people of the Children First Society come forward with a good business case and I believe the government should build this facility and lease it back to them. They are willing to do that. They are willing to give the government back some money. The Minister, at the time, committed to go back to his FMB colleagues to bring this proposal forward to them. I would like to ask the Minister if he has met with FMB with the proposal and, if so, what was the outcome of the meeting? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t had a meeting with the proponents at this point, but I would be happy to meet with them and discuss their proposal.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response from the Minister. That was from February 15th. Now we are into June. The design phase is going to start soon and they will be expecting $550,000 from the Early Child Education Centre to get them through the design stage. I would like to ask the Minister if he could commit in carrying the cost for the design and the preliminary site development stage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to apologize to the Member; it appears that he has a copy of a proposal that I haven’t yet seen. As soon as I get my hands on that, I would be happy to consider it and see where we might be able to move with it. I would agree that we would like to do what we can to assist communities to ensure that childcare is provided and I will have to take a look at what they proposed specifically and see where we can go from there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have a copy of the proposal here and I would be glad to share it with Minister Dent. This proposal was given to me personally by the Children First Society. I will share that with Mr. Dent as soon as we are done here. I would like to ask the Minister if the department has done any work into estimating additional cost of housing childcare programs in schools. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The additional cost would be whatever the cost per square foot is to add the space in a school when that school might be under construction. We have a number of schools in the Northwest Territories in several communities where childcare programs are being offered in classrooms that are essential or not in use as part of the regular school program. For instance, schools that are under capacity. So it is not an uncommon situation. In fact, it’s one that we think is good use of a space. Thank you.